Water still



May 3, 1927. v 1,626,960

E. V. CLIVER I WATER STILL Filed Dec. 4, 1923 4 Sheets-Shet 1 E. V. OLIVER WATER STILL May 3, 1927.

Filed Dec. 4, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1511. Ola/er.

dwr r 1,626,960 E. v. OLIVER wmm swm;

F iled Dec. 4. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

May 39 E. V. WATER LL Filed Dec. 4, 1923 4 Sheet eat 4 "will" Patented May 3, 1927.

Lauren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNON V. OLIVER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

WATER STILL.

Application filed December 4, 19:23. Serial No. 6%,451.

Another object of the invention is to pro;

construct, the generator unit of the still that the water to bevaporized will be preheated in an economical. manner thereby effecting a further econon'iy in the consumption of fuel.

Another object ot the invention is to provide a still so constructed that in its operation the distilled water, will be aerated, means being provided for introducingair into the steam or water vapor substantially at the moment o't condensation, so that the distilled product will not be flat is usually the case with distilled water, but will on the other hand contain substantially the same volume of absorbed. air as does ordinary water 'lron'i natural sources.

driefly described, the still en'ibodying the invention comprises a generator, a receivertor the distilled waterdand means for con- (lensing the water vapor, and the invention conlinn iilates providing means whereby water which is employed as a cooling medi um in the condenser may, as it has its temperature elevated through the exchange of heat unitsi be delivered to the generator in a more or less preheated state.

Another object ot the invent on is to provide a novel construction ot condenser which will present a maximum surface areato the cooling medium and to the vapors to be condensed and which will, at the same time, be compact thereby especially adapting the still t'r'or home use. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel receiver for the condensed vapors adapted to collect the distilled water in the most effective manner and deliver the same continuously from the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a distilling apparatus; which, While imarily intended for domestic use in dis titling water, may when desired, and by a slight rearrangement of parts, be employed as a steam cooker. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l s a vertical 7 sectional view tl'irough a. distillingapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View taken subr atantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure}; is a bottom plan View of the condenser ot the apparatus; T

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the receiver of the apparatus;

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the generator ot the apparatus;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view through the upper portion of one of the steam chann bers of the condenser;

Figure 7 is a sectional perspective view of the steam cooking attachment of the apparatus.

Considering the apparatus solely as a water still, the same consists essentially of a generator which is indicated in general by the numeral 1, a receiver which is indicated in general by the numeral 2, and a condenser which in indicated in general by the numeral 3.

The generator 1 comprises a hollowrecthereby rendering the structure rigid and substantial, Located Within the body of the generator is a preheating chamber 9 comprising side walls 10 and end walls ll and abottom 12, the side walls 10 and end valls 11 being located in spaced parallelism with relation to the side and end walls 4 and a respectively. It will be evident at this point that thepreheating chamber has the form of a hollow rectangle. The walls 10 and 11 of the preheating chamber preferably terminate short of the plane oeciqaied by the upper edges of the walls el and 5 of the body of the generator, and supported by these walls within the space surrounded by the said walls and 11, is a plate 18 which constitutes the bottom of a generating chamber let, the upper portions of the walls 10 and 11 constituting the surrounding or encompassing walls of the said chamber Ll. Openings 15 are provided in the said upper portionsvof the walls 10 and ll and establish con'imunication between the preheating chamber 9 and the generating chamber ll. These openings 15 are locat d but a short distanceabove the plane of the bottom 13 of the generating chamber and it will be evident that by maintaining a water level within the preheating chamber 9 not higher than the openings 15, a pool or very shallow body of water will be maintained in the said generating chamber l-l. The generator as a whole is, of course, to be disposed above a stove or other source of heat and due to the very shallow depth of the volume of water which is within the generating chamber, the water will be practically flashed into steam thereby effecting economy in the use of fuel and greatly facilitating the vaporization of the water. It will also be evident at this point that the water in the preheating chamber 9 will be heated due to the proximity of this chamber to the stove or other source of heat, so that as the water is supplied to the generatmg chamber l -i through the openings 15, it will reach the said generating chamber at a more or less elevated temperature.

In order to further consc re the heat units and, to an extent, prevent the hot air cur rents passing into the upper portion of the apparatus, and on the other hand confine them to the generating chamber li, a plate 16 is disposed within the generator body and is supported upon the upper edges of the walls 10 and 11 in a horizontal plane l slow the plane occupied by the upper edges of the walls and 5. It re atively small number of perforations 17 are formed in the plate 1%; in that portion which overlies or covers the top of the preheating chamber 9, and c isiderably greater number of perforatioi'is 1.8 are formed in that portion of the plate 1 if which overlies and covers the top of the generating chamber ll. The openings 1? are only suliicient in number to relieve any pressure of steam which might tend to lift the plate from its proper position, whereas the openings 18 are sullicient in number ti. permit free escape of steam from the gen crating chamber it, it being understood, however, that the portion of the plate which extends over the top of the generating chanp ber, constitutes a means for confining the heat to the chamber where it will serve its purpose in vaporizing the water.

in order that water may be supplied to the preheating chamber 5) from a source which will presently be more fully described, a pipe 19 is secured at one end through one of the end walls 5 of the body of the generator unit and extends upwardly beside the said wall and terminates at its upper end in a receiving funnel indicated by the numeral 20, the funnel preferably having its rim overturned, as at 21, so as to be suitably reinforced. The funnel has its open upper side located in a plane a short distance above the plane occupied by the plate 16 and below the plane occupied by the upper edges of the walls -land 5 of the generator body. For a purpose to be presently pointed out, a short length of pipe or tubing 22 is soldered or otherwise secured to the inner sid of the wall of the tunnel and projects at its upper end above the top of the funnel to provide for the cmmcction of a hose or tube (not shown) leading from a source of water supply.

As will be evident by reference to the drawings and particularly Figures 1 and 2 thereof, the receiver is located upon and supported by the generator, and the condenser is in turn located upon and supported by the receiver. The receiver comprises a hollow rectangular body having side walls 23 and end walls 2%, the walls being preterab'ly of sheet metal and the upper edges of the walls being overturned as at 25 so as to be reinforced, it being preferable that rcinforcing wire or rod material at be located in the bead formed by m'erturning those edges of the walls. The length and brcadih dimensions of the body comprising the receiver are substantially the same as the corresponding dimensions of the generator body, and the lower port ions of the side and end walls of the receiver body are turned outwardly, as at 27, and thence downwardly. as at 28, and formed with a head 3!). 'iheso offset portions of the walls of the receiver body .tit about and rest upon the upper por tions of the walls of the generator body, as clearly shown in the said Figures 1 and it being understood that the receiver body may be withdrawn from the generator body when occasion requires. Within the receiver body there arranged. a receiving pan indicated in general by the numeral and this pan is preferably formed from a sheet of metal so pressed into shape that the pan will be initill plane of the open top of the casing of the condenser, the tubes being open at their upper ends.

in order that water may be supplied to the water chambers of the condenser, a water supply pipe 58 is led through one end wall 4-1 of the casing ot the condene-ier at a point below the plane ot the closed bottoms of the water chambers ll, andv this pipe has branches within the said casing, indicated by ll numeral to whi h branches are connected water pipes 55 which extend parallel to the side walls-i ll) of the casing of the condenser and rubstantially to the opposite end walls ll therco'l where they are connected by short branches 5G with a branch pipe 57 which leads through the said end wall of the casing and is connected to one side of the casing of a cut-ell valve 58, the other side of the casing of the valve being connected to a pipe 79 which will presently be referred to more specifically. Short tubes -60 extend upwardh from the pir es 55 and oonnnunicate with the water chambers ell through the closed bottoms thereol, as clearly shown in Figures 1. and 2 of the drawings. The pipe 59 eXtends downwardly from the valve 58 with its lower end located above or preferably substantially within the open top or" the tunnel 20, and the pipe likewise extends vertically above the valve 58 and is connected by an elbow 61 with a short branch (52 which is placed in comnnniication with the interior of the condenser casing through the end wall thereof, a cut oil" valve 63 being interposed in the said pipe 5-). An overflow pipe 6% is 1nounted through the other end ot' the condenser casing and is provided interiorly of the casing with a downwardly extending branch 65 to obviate air being drawn through the pipe during the outllow of water therethrongh and which would result in the overtl-ow being attended by a gurgling sound. A cut-oil valve 66 is mounted in the pipe G l exteriorly ot the condenser casing. Branch pipes 66 likewise lead :trom the pipes 55 and communicate with the water chambers 416 through the closed bottoms thereof.

From the foregoing description of the invcntion it will be understood that water is adn'iitted to the COIHlQilSQl' through the pipe 53 and the pipes 55 and their tubular l 'anches (it). the valve 58 being closed. The water will rise in the water chanibers ll: and 1-6 until it reaches the level of the overilow pipe (l-l. lt desired the valve (it; may be opened to permit of overtlow, or this valve may be closed. ln any event when the apparatus is being employed as a still water is supplied to the generator by opening the valve 63 to such an extent as to permit of flow of water from the pool above the water and condensation chambers 44: and 45 of the condenser to the funnel 520 and from the tunnel through the pipe 19 into the preheating chamber-5) where it will be initially heated and the [low of water being properly regulated, will be discharged trom this chamber through the openings 15) and onto the bottom of the generating chamber l lwhere, owing to the small volume of water distributed over the relatively large area of the said bottom of the generating chamher, the water will be rapidly converted into steam which, escaping through the openings lb, will rise and pass through the tubular spouts Ill or the receiving pan 250. Rising above the pan, the steam will enter the coi'idcnsation chambers lo-5 and, coming in contact with the water cooled walls or these chambers. will be condensed and the condensate will be delivered to the receiving pan 3t) and, llowing down the inclined sides of this pan, will leave the apparatus by way of the pipe 323. lly providing the vent openings 50 in the top of the condensation chambers a more thorough circulation of air and steam in these chambers is ell'ected, and there is no appreciable loss of the steam for the reason that it any should escape throrg'h the vent openings 50, it would be condensed in the tubes 52 inasmuch these tubes are surrounded by the cooling water, and would be returned to the chambers is through the id vent openings, the overturning of the llltttOl'lttl ol the closed tops -14) of the condensation chambers about the openings 50. as at 51, serving to collect the water and insure of its discharge through the openings and into the said chambers to.

In the event that it should for any reason become necessary to empty the condenser o'li water previously delivered thereto, this may be readily accomplished by opening the valve 58. lhe best results will, oli course, be obtained where a constant circulation olf water through the condenser is established but where running water is not available, the valve 53 which interposed in the pipe may be closed, as well as the valves or; and ($23, the valve 58 being opened sulliciently to maintain a proper supply of w: (or to the generator, water being then poured into the condenser.

As the ap iaratus is intended 'lor domestic use, it will In-elerably embody a steam cooker such as illustrated in Figure '7 of the drawings and indicated in general by the numeral 67. The cooker attachment con'iprises side walls (3%, and end walls (if) and is provided with an otl' scl rim T0 at its bottom adapting it to be titled onto the top oi the receiver 2 after removal oi" the condenser 3 therel'rom. The body ol the cooher is provided with a bottom Tl which is tlormed with perforations 72, and intersectiing partitions 73 are arrai'iged within the interior oi the cooker body one serve to di vide the interior into a number of separate iuu Jill) and independent compartments in which may be placed the commodities to be cooked. The body of the cooker is provided with a lid 7 4 adapted to be held in place by clamps and provided with a handle76 which may be grasped for the purpose of removing it.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In distilling apparatus, a generator com prising a hollow body, a preheating chamber extending about the interior of the body and including walls spaced from the walls of the body, means for supplying fluid to be distilled to the preheating chamber, a

plate supported by and withinthe boundaries of the said walls of the preheating chamber and constituting, in connection with the upper portions of said walls, a generating chamber, the said upper portions of the walls above and relatively close to the said plate being formed with openings to provide for supply of the fluid from the preheating chamber to the generating chamber in a relatively shallow pool extending over the surface of. the said plate.

2. In distilling apparatus, a generator comprising a generating chamber and a preheating chamber both open at their top, the wall of the generating chamber having an opening establishing communication between it and the preheating chamber, means for supplying the fluid to be distilled to the preheating chamber, and a heat confining plate extending over the top ofthe generating and preheating chambers and having perforations in the portions of its area which extend over both of said chambers.

3. In distilling apparatus, a generator comprising a generating chamber and a preheating chamber both open at their top, the wall of the generating chamber having an opening establishing communication between it and the preheating chamber, means for supplying the fluid to be distilledlto the preheating chamber, a heat confining plate extending over the top of the generating and preheating chambers and having perforations in the portions of its area which extend over both of said chambers, a condenser and means for conducting the vapors from the generating chamber to the condenser.

-l-. In distilling apparatus, a condenser comprising alternately arranged condensation and cooling-tluid chambers, the condensation chambers being open at their bottoms and having vent openings in their closed tops, tubes leading upwardly from the closed tops of the said condensation chanil'iers and communicating at their lower ends with the said vent openings, a casing enclosing the said condensation and coolingfluid chambers whereby a body of cooling fluid may be established about the said tubes,

a cooling-fluid supply pipe, branches leading therefrom to the closed bottoms of the cooling-fluid chambers, means for supplying the vapors to be condensed to the space below 'the open bottoms of the condensation chambers, andvmea-ns for collecting the condensate from the condensation chambers.

5. In distilling apparatus, a condenser comprising a casing, alternately arranged condensation and cooling-fluid chambers arranged within the casing, the condensation chambers being closed at their tops and open at their bottoms and the cooling-fluid chambers being open at their tops and closed at their bottoms, the said chambers terminating at their ends short of the relatively adjacent walls of the casing, a cooling-fluid chamber between the said ends of the first mentioned chambers and the said walls of the casing, means for delivering a cooling fluid to all of the cooling-fluid chambers individually, and means for collecting the condensate from the condensation chambers.

6-. In distilling apparatus, a condenser comprising alternately arranged condensation and cooling-fluid chambers, the former being open at their bottoms and the latter open at their tops, means for supplying the vapors to be condensed to the space below the open bottoms of the condensation chambers, a cooling fluid supply pipe extending through one wall of the condenser, branches extending from the pipe in opposite directions, pipes extending from the branches in parallel relation beneath the series of condensation and cooling-fluid chambers, tubular branches leading from the said lastmentioned pipes to the bottoms of the coolingfluid chambers, an outlet pipe leading through the opposite wall of the condenser, branches connecting the other ends of the said parallel pipes to the said outlet pipe, a valve in the inlet pipe, a valve in the outlet pipe, an overflow pipe leading from the condenser above the series of condensation and cooling-fluid chambers, and connection between the last-mentioned valve and the said overflow pipe. 7

7. In distilling apparatus, a condenser comprising alternately arranged condensation and cooling fluid chambers, the former being open at their bottoms and the latter open at their tops, means for supplying the vapors to be condensed to the space below, the open bottoms of the condensation cliambers, a cooling fluid supply pipe extending through one wall of the condenser, branches extending from the pipe in opposite directions, pipes extending from the branches in parallel relation beneath the series of condensation and cooling-fluid chambers, tubular branches leading from the said lastmentioned pipes to the bottoms of the cooling-fluid chambers, an outlet pipe leading through the opposite wall oi the condenser,

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branches connecting the other ends of the said parallel pipes to the said outlet pipe, a valve in the inlet pipe, a valve in the outlet pipe, an overflow pipe leading from the condenser above the series of condensation and cooling-fluid chambers, connection between the last-mentioned valve and the said overflow pipe, and a cutoff va.ve in the overflow pipe near the upper end thereo't.

8. In distilling apparatus, a condenser comprising alternately arranged condensa tion and cooling-fluid chambers, the former being open at their bottoms and the latter open at their tops, means for suppl ,ing the vapors to be condensed to the space below the open bottoms of the condensation chambers, a cooling fluid supply pipe extending through one wall of the condenser, branches extending from the pipe in opposite directions, pipes extending from the ln'anches in parallel relation beneath the series of condensation and cooling-fluid chambers, tubular branches leading from the said lastnientioned pipes to the bottoms of "he cooling-fluid chambers, an outlet pipe leading through the opposite wall of the condenser, bral'iches connecting the other ends of the said parallel pipes to the said outlet pipe, a valve in the inlet pipe, a valve in the out-- let pipe, an overflow pipe leading from the condenser above the series o'l condensation and cooling-fluid chambers. connection between the last-mentioned valve and the said overflow pipe, at cut-oll' valve in the overtlow pipe near the upper end thereof, and a valved overflow leading from the opposite side of the condenser at a point above the said: condensation and cooling-fluid chambers.

9. In distilling apparatus, a generator comprising a hollow body, a preheating chamber extending about the interior oi the body and including walls spaced from the walls of the body, a plate supported by and within the boundaries of the said walls ot' the preheating chamber andconstituting, in connection with the upper portions of said walls, a generating chamber, said upper portions of the walls above and close to the noeceoo said plate being formed with openings to provide for supply of fluid from the preheating chamber to the generating chamber in a shallow pool extending over the sur'tace of said plate, a condenser arranged above the generating chamber, means for supplying a cooling fluid to the condenser, and means for delivering the overflow ot fluid from the condenser to the preheating chamber of the gei'ierator.

10. In distilling apparatus, a generator, a condenser located above the generator, :1 receiver located below "he condenser, means for the passage o't vapor from the generator to the receiver, through the condenser, the condenser comprising condensation and fluid-cooling chambers, the condensation chambers being open at their bottoms and closed at their tops, the closed top of each condensation chamber being provided with a vent opening, a vent tube upstanding from the top of each ctmdensation chamber and in conm'innication at its lower end with a respective one of the vent openings, means tor admit-ting a cooling fluid to the -ondeuscr, and means for permitting an overflow ol the cooling fluid from the condenser to maintain the water level within the condenser below the upper ends of the said tubes.

ll. In distilling apparatus, a generator, a condenser located above the generator, :1 receiver located below the C(HILlG'I'lSGl', means for the passage of vapor from the generator through the receiver to the coi'idenscr, the condenser con'iprising COI'ltlOllSlltlCH! and fluid-cooling chambers, the condensation cl'ianibers being open at their bottoms and closed at their tops, the closed top of each condensation chamber being provided with a vent opei'iing having its wall torzned to provide a downwa'dly projecting nipple. and a vent tube mounted upon the said closed top of each condensation chamber concentric to a respective one of the said openings and ot an interior diameter greater than the diameter of the openings.

In testimony whereof I a'flix inv signal are.

ERNON v. OLIVER. 'L,

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